Should we be Royal?

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Medical history
• Cultural inclusivity

Background:

• The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and its Crest reflect a colonial past.
• This colonial legacy presents a barrier to achieving an inclusive 21st-century Australasian psychiatry.
• The current name and symbol do not represent the diverse multicultural society of Australia and New Zealand.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the colonial legacy impacting the RANZCP.
• To examine the evolution of the college and the attachment of the "Royal" prefix.
• To advocate for modernizing the RANZCP's identity for greater inclusivity.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of the RANZCP's colonial legacy.
• Analysis of the college's evolution and naming conventions.
• Examination of the symbolic impact of the "Royal" prefix and Crest.

Main Results:

• The "Royal" prefix and Crest are anachronistic, stemming from a colonial past.
• These symbols symbolically undermine the mission of inclusive psychiatry.
• The current identity hinders the inclusion of Indigenous peoples and diverse cultural groups.

Conclusions:

• Modernizing the RANZCP name and Crest is essential for contemporary psychiatric practice.
• Removing the "Royal" prefix will enhance inclusivity and reflect modern values.
• A new symbol is needed to embody the college's vision for a diverse and inclusive psychiatry.